The Race to a NYS Budget (with sharp elbows!)

The 26-27 State Budget is due today, the legislatures passed “continuing resolutions” to keep the state afloat and the members left for the Easter/Passover break, leaving a number of contentious issues unresolved.

The  governor continues to push for the authority to override local zoning regulations to build more “affordable” housing, suburban legislators pushing back.

The governor is arguing for changes in automobile insurance laws that would sharply reduce the burden on insurers and reduce insurance for drivers. The trial lawyers association are strongly opposing.

Hochul wants to delay the implementation of a number of climate laws arguing the implementation is too costly, climate advocates pushing back.

The “one house” budgets call for higher taxes for top income earners, Republicans are blasting Hochul and the governor’s wide polling lead is narrowing.

Legislators overwhelmingly voiced support for Fixing Tier 6, even Cuomo, who passed the law during the Great Recession to ease the tax burden on communities now supports Fixing Tier 6. At the recent UFT Executive Board meeting Mulgrew said the Albany discussion is “getting ugly.”  A group representing towns and villages are pushing back arguing they are already facing severe local tax shortfalls    
and Fixing Tier 6 would be a significant burden.

Will Hochul back away from her support fearing a backlash from voters in November? Will the “Fix” be a bandaid not a cure. 

Hochul placed a four year extension of mayoral control in her preliminary budget and legislative leadership pushed back: is there a compromise? A two year extension? Or continue to discuss after they return, mayoral control sunsets on June 30th

Mamdani is continuing to advocate increasing taxes on high wage earners and use the increased revenues for “fast and free buses.”

While legislators are enjoying Seders and Easter Sunday dinners their staffs will continue to parse budget issues.

Negotiations are complicated, frequently linking seemingly unrelated issues. 

Is Hochul’s support of “Fixing Tier 6” tied to a gubernatorial endorsement? The Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman is an avid Trumper, isn’t a Hochul the only choice?

In my union staff days I was an arbitration advocate, an arbitration is a trial, the arbitrator is the judge and jury, and frequently adroitly nudging both sides to settle.

The case was about money, a per session job denied, a substantial sum. The board attorney offered a meager sum and wouldn’t budge. I suggested a mutually agreed upon sum and the remainder in adding CAR days to the teachers accumulation.  The CAR days would grow in value as contract salary increased. The arbitrator wrote the award, everybody happy. A colleague tried to use the same concept in another case, but the department lawyer refused.  

Was it my skills, my charm, or just the right day? Negotiations are complicated and finding a win-win often requires creativity.

All of Hochul’s budget has gone past the April 1 deadline. None of Cuomo’s budgets went beyond April 1.

The late budget could drag, one of Governor Patterson’s budgets lagged until July.
Budget decisions can become campaign issues and impact the June 23th primary and the November general election.

Mulgrew and his team are skilled, and the UFT across the city have developed relationships with legislators and NYSUT does the same across the state. 

Politics is a full contact sport.